Chair convertible to a step stool



April 13, 1954 A. L. MEAGHER CHAIR CONVERTIBLE TO A STEP STOOL Filed May 4, 1953 m m.% N m W: a. M .5 L Y B e w l A Patented Apr. 13, 1954 ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Alice L. Meagher, Goodyear, Conn.

Application May 4, 1953, Serial No. 352,681

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in child's furniture, and the principal object of the invention is to provide an article of furniture of the character herein described which, in one position, may be effectively employed as a chair, while in another position it may be conveniently used as a step stool.

An important feature of the invention, therefore, resides in its convertibility, while another feature of the invention involves the provision of novel means for locking the article of furniture in either of its positions.

Some of the advantages of its invention reside in its simple construction, in its eflicient and dependable operation and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention in readiness for use as a chair;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the invention in readiness for use as a step stool;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4--4 in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to that shown in Figure 4, but illustrating a slightly modified arrangement of the locking bar 1and keyhole-shaped opening used in the inven- Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompa drawmgs in detail, the article of furniture is desi generally by the reference character ID and, as will be readily apparent from the accomp ying drawings, is preferably confi F to simulate the app of a Pail ammals such as skunks, or the like.

The assembly I embodies in its construction a seat section designated generally by the refer ence character I2 and a back section designated generally by the reference character M, the seat section consisting of a pair of tr e y sp Claims. (G1. 155-42) base members 16 and a substantially horizontal seat panel l8 which is rigidly secured to the base members and extends transversely therebetween.

The back section It consists of a pair of transversely spaced side members 20 and a back panel 22 which is rigidly secured to and extends transversely between the side members, as shown.

The side members 20 straddle the seat section 12 and a transverse locking bar 24 is rigidly secured to these side members, this locking bar extending through a pair of keyhole-shaped openings 26 with which the base members iii of the seat section 12 are provided.

It will be noted that the openings 26 include a substantially circular lower portion 28 and an upwardly extending notch portion 30 (see Figure 4) the width of the latter corresponding substantially to the thickness of the bar 24 so that the bar may be received in the notched portion 30 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this position the back section [4 extends upwardly from the seat section l2 and the back panel 22 is disposed above the seat panel [8 so that it coacts therewith in affording a chair.

However, by simply raising the rear end of the seat section l2 upwardly so that the end portions of the locking bar 24 are disposed in the round portions 28 of the openings 26 as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the entire back section [4 may be swung rearwardly and downwardly while the end portions of the bar 24 rotate in the round portions 28 of the openings 26, so that the back panel 24 is disposed below and rearwardly of the seat panel l8 to permit the entire device to be used as a step stool.

The accompanying Figure 5 illustrates a slightly modified form of the invention wherein the end portions of the locking bar 24a and the notched portions 30 of the openings 26 are provided with rounded edges 25, to facilitate manufacture.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the in- ,vention to the exact construction shown and de- :scribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted, to falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A chair convertible to a step stool, comprising a seat section including a pair of spaced base members and a seat panel extending therebetween, a back section including a pair of side members pivotally connected to said base members and extending upwardly therefrom, said back section also including a back panel extending between said side members and disposed above said seat panel, said back section being swingable rearwardly and downwardly to a posi tion wherein said back panel is disposed below said seat panel to provide a step stool, said seat and back sections having means for locking said back section in its upwardly extending position.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means include a locking bar extending through said base members and through said side members.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said base members are provided with keyholeshaped openings, said locking means comprising a locking bar extending transversely between and secured to said side members, said locking bar passing through said openings.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said locking bar and openings constitute sole means for pivotally connecting said back section to said seat section.

5. A chair convertible to a step stool, comprising a seat section including a pair of spaced base members and a seat panel extending therebetween, said base members being provided with a pair of transversely aligned keyhole-shaped openings afiording substantially circular lower portions and upwardly extending notches, a back section including a pair of side members straddling the base members of the seat section, a back panel extending between said side members and disposed above said seat panel, and a polygonal locking bar secured to said side members and extending through said openings, said looking bar being rotatable in the substantially circular lower portions of said openings whereby said back section is pivotally connected to said seat section and may be swung rearwardly and downwardly to a position wherein said back panel is disposed below said seat panel to provide a step stool, said locking bar being non-rotatably receivable in the notches of said openings whereby to lock the back section in its upwardly extending position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 448,367 Rawson Mar. 17, 1891 910,818 Hook Jan. 26, 1909 1,896,451 Lofton Feb. 7, 1933 

